2010

I have never really made resolutions for the new year but this year I have made "goals". Things I hope to stay up on and accomplish this year. Hopefully by sharing them with you it will make me try harder to stay on track.

1. I want to try and (hopefully) blog about one new recipe each week. (hopefully this will not only expand my dinner planning but give you guys a few new recipes)

2. I bought a devotion book and I want to spend at least 30 minutes a day reading my passage and writing a reflection.

3. I want to stay more focused on my school work and get a 4.0 all three semester this year.

I hope you all will encourage me and push me to reach my goals this year.

One fish Two Fish red fish Blue fish

I love fish

As far as I can remember we have had fish tanks in our house. Wait let me repharse that, multiple fish tanks in our house. I think fish are beautiful and I love to watch them.

I have been wanting a tank since Austin and I fisrt moved in together, but the apartment we had last year was too small.

Now that we have a house of our own and extra bedrooms I was finally able to get a tank!!

Austin helping fill it up

All the decor that will soon fill it

Final product!!

Christmas

Christmas was a blast this year! we had many stops to make in one day and were tired when we were finally home.

Austin "not" getting ready for the day because he just opened his PS3

Started the day at my mom's. She always spoils us!

Little Emily ready for gift time

Funny story behind this gift, Brooke's power went out at school the night before finals and she panicked because she needed to study and had no power! Mom took care of her if it ever happens again

Emily's sweet snuggie

Later we went to Austin dad's, then finished up with dinner at Andrea's

By then time we got home all Austin had energy for was this....

2009

Wow, a year has past already?!

Where does time go?

This year was Austin and I's first year together married. It was a great, fun filled year.

Austin got laid off in the beginning of the year but we managed through

We bought our first house and love it!

We got a new little puppy and he and Cheech are best buds

We were able to welcome a little nephew into the family, Jaxon

Austin and I both started new jobs

I continued working on my college degree

I learned the couch doubles as a bed when your husband is a master snorer

I gained great respect for Austin and all the hard work he puts in

I learned to read recipes twice and then again before starting, I must have messed up a "few" different dishes by thinking I knew how to make them

Austin will fly fish rain or shine. Snow or sleet. 7 am or 4 pm. 1 hour or 6 hours

I learned to be patient, things happen when it's the right time

Finally I learned to not buy your husband a PS3 unless you don't expect him to move from in front on the television for the next 7 hours

This year has been a blessing and we are thankful for all the family and friends we have. We look forward to another great year together and cannot wait to see what it brings :)

Ginger Off

Sunday Austin and I decided we wanted to build a gingerbread house. We asked my sister Brooke to get one too and we could have a contest.

Let me start by saying that Brooke is not the craftiest person I know, and Austin is a perfectionist.

Brooke started off on the wrong foot when she cut the hole to the frosting too big, it all went down hill from there.

After we got the foundations up we had to let them dry for 15 minutes. We went and played Rock Band, as the 3 of us always do. I would have pictures of our sweet band, Salt Horse Soul, but it was too hard to play guitar and take pictures.

After the houses were dry we began decorating. Again Brooke went about it differently than Austin and I. Mid way through decorating her roof came off! She even put the wreath on upside down. She went with the snow storm look and put frosting everywhere.

Brooke also claimed that her house was the future of gingerbread houses.

Austin's house

Mom declared that in the end we both won, Brooke for creativity and Austin and I for following instructions.

It was a fun night and I was happy to spend time with my sister. Even though she is back for a little over a month, its hard to find time to spend with her with work and separate schedules.

4 am

This is what 4 am looks like

4 am is NOT a fun time

It is dead, quiet, cold, and dark

How do I know?

Austin has to be at work at 4:30 everyday. Last week he worked 14 hour days and was beyond tired. One day he turned off his alarm but never got up. I woke up at 4:10 am to find him still sleeping. As he showered and got ready I was a good wife and got up to help. All I could really do was make coffee and his lunch but it was better than nothing.

Even little Cheech was not happy to be up :)

He took his bone, went under the table and fell back asleep

I try not to complain as much about being up at 7!

Easy Banana Bread

I found this super easy Banana Bread recipe!

* Melt 1/3 c butter

* add 3 bananas


* mash

* Add one egg

* 3/4 c Sugar

1 teaspoon both Vanilla and baking soda

* Lastly add 1 1/2 c flour

Mix and bake for 1 hour @ 350 degrees

Cool and ENJOY!